Chaeles



(No Model.)

C. G. CARPENTER 82: G. W. LOOKWQOD.

PANNIER OR PANNIER SKIRT. I

No. 324,300; Patented Aug. 11, I885.

N. PETERS, Pholo-Lhhugmpher. Walhingtun, D. c

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. CARPENTER, OF NEW YORK, AND GEORGE W. LOOKWVOOD, OF BROOKLYN, N. Y.; SAID LOOKWVOOD ASSIGN OR TO SAID CARPENTER.

PANNIER OR PANNIER-YSKIRT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,300, dated August 11, 1885.

Application filed May 26, 18 5.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES C. CARPEN- TER and GEORGE W. LocKwoon, both citizens of the United States, said CARPENTER residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, and the said LOOK- WOOD residing in Brooklyn, Kings county, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirts and Panniers;

IO and we do declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to panniers or pannier-skirts; and the novelty consists in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

\Ve will describe the material features of the invention as applied to hoop-skirts having pannier forms, and will so illustrate them; but it will be understood that the advantages of the invention will accrue to other relations and combinations.

It is desirable in this class of devices, first, to so arrange the springs that their greatest force will be exerted against downward pressure, to resist the gravity of the supported skirts, and, second, to provide that the springs may fold upward and lie close together, as in case of the wearer sitting, without subjecting the springs to any considerable torsion or strain; third, to provide some force other than the gravity of the skirt or pannier, or both, to make the device reassume a normal position after having been folded, as in sitting. We accomplish theseends by mounting the pannier-springs in separate layers or frames. These frames are then secured'together, so that the springs will cross each other at a central vertical back line, and so as to bring the springs of each frame in a vertically-in'- clined position upon one side of said central line and in a horizontal position upon the other. The downwardly-inclined portions of (No model.)

the springs serve to apply the greatest force of the springs to resist the downward pressure of the gravity of the skirts, while the horizontal portions not only allow the pannier to fold upward, but by reason of the points of attachment of each spring the horizontal portion serves with a constant force to draw the pannier down at the central line and incline it continually to a normal extended position.

The invention is illustrated in the accom- 6o panying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure l is a back view of the skirt, showing theposition of the two layers of springs when secured together to form the pannier. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 8 is a rear elevation showing the arrangement of the springs with relation to each other, one layer being loose at the right side. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail. In this figure it will be observed. that the springs which are inclined upon one side of the pannier are horizontal upon opposite side, the dotted lines showing the amount of deflection which is made in order to give the torsion mentioned.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the body of a hoop-skirt, a the vertical tapes, and a the waistband of the same. These parts are of ordinary construction. For convenience of description I will designate the two side tapes by the letters 00 and x and the two back tapes by the single letter 00 A series of springs, B, being secured to the side tape at are carried upward, and first secured to the nearest back tape 00 then carried in an approximately-horizontal position over and secured to the other back tape, and their several free ends secured by an independent tape, 1). A similar series of springs, B, are secured to the side tape 09, carried up and 0 over in a similar manner, but in reverse directions, and the free ends secured by a sepa rate tape, 2). The amount of upward incline may be varied.

In forming the pannier the tape b will be 5 pressed down until the free ends of the springs B beyond the last back tape assume an ap proximate horizontal position, when it may be secured by any suitable means to the side tape 00, and the tape 1/ being similarly forced down and secured to the tape a: in a similar manner, throws the springs into the desirable form shown.

The springs B are arranged at considerable incline upon one side of the tapes ai and nearly or quite horizontal upon the other, while the springs B are inclined upon the side upon which the springs B are horizontal, and horizontal where the said springs B are inclined,

Each series of wires being secured to the back tapes, 00*, it follows that the inclined portions of the springs upon both sides serve to present their position of greatest resistance against downward pressure, thus supporting yieldingly but firmly the skirts, &c., of the wearer. Vhen the wearer sits, these inclined portions will fold against each other or upward in the direction shown, the horizontal portions of each series freely allowing this action. \Vhen the wearer assumes an upright position, the torsion of the springs, due to the bend given each spring to deflect it from the inclined to the horizontal position, serves with a constant force to throw the several springs into their normal position described.

Leaves (3, attached to each side tape and having eyelets 0, allows the wearer to vary the form and swell of the pannier by properly manipulating the lacing-cord D.

XVe attach especial importance to the positions of the springs, whereby resistance is given to downward pressure, the ease of upward folding is attained, and particularly to the horizontal bend of the springs, whereby is obtained that constant force to hold the springs down to the limits of the back tapes, x and the pannier quickly reassurnes its perfect form and position.

Parts of the invention may be used without the whole. The tapes I) and b, as features of the construction, may be omitted, and the springs be secured directly to their appropriate tapes.

Modifications in details of construction may be made within wide limits without sacrificing the advantages or departing from the principle of the invention, the essential features of which have been shown and described.

. \Vhat we claim as new is-- 1. A pannier or form for hoop skirts, comg prising two series of springs, each series arranged at an incline upon one side of the pan nier and upon a horizontal plane upon the opposite side, and the two series arranged reversely, as set forth.

2. In a pannier or form for hoop-skirts, the two series of wires, B B, having inclined portions to resist downward pressure, and horizontal portions to allow folding, the said wires being arranged in reverse series and secured to tapes as m as, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. A pannier formed of springs arranged at an incline upon one side of the pannier to resist the pressure of drapery and held torsionally upon the opposite side to provide horizontal portions which exert a constant force to hold the springs down to the limits of their holding-tapes, as set forth.

4. Thepannier described, formed of springs B B, each series so arranged as to provide inclined portions on the one side and horizontal portions 011 the other side, and the ends of said springs held by tapes b b and w 00, substantially as described.

5. The pannier-skirt described, consisting of the body A, the tapes :0 x :0 the springs B B, tapes b b, the leaves G, having eyelets c. and lacing-cord D, the springs being secured as described, and the whole combined to serve as set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES C. CARPENTER. GEORGE \V. LOGKWOOD. Vitnesses:

J. B. NoNEs, S. STEINHEIMER. 

